erwin mcmanus : Brett Fish

a radical minimum standard [part the seconde]

Excerpt from Erwin McManus ‘an unstoppable force’ (available from Loot - http://www.loot.co.za/refer.html?referrer=85894849355 – for R170) [continued] HOW MANY TIMES DOES HE HAVE TO CALL? Why are there so many levels of Christian calling in our contemporary Christian community? Where are they found in the Biblical text? I have a strange suspicion that the nuances of these “callings” have less to do with theology and more to do with the condition of the church. Paul seemed [...]

By brettfish|2010-03-17T12:54:16+02:00March 17th, 2010|church, God stuff, life|0 Comments

a radical minimum standard [part the firste]

Excerpt from Erwin McManus ‘an unstoppable force’ (available from Loot - http://www.loot.co.za/refer.html?referrer=85894849355 – for R170) Wow this last chapter of the EM book i’ve been reading resonated so hugely with my spirit i had to share (go and buy the book!): A RADICAL MINIMUM STANDARD On August 20, 1978, I walked to the altar at the first Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida and gave my life to Jesus Christ as my Lord. I remember standing [...]

By brettfish|2010-03-17T05:39:48+02:00March 17th, 2010|church, God stuff|0 Comments

not for what we don't do but what we do do

When we focus on character development, we usually emphasise the elimination of sin. What it means to be holy then finds its definition in things that we do not do rather than things we do. This focus can be easily understood and justified. Certainly a significant part of our spiritual journey is the putting off of the old. Early on in the process, the dominant conversation between God and us seems to be about some [...]

By brettfish|2010-03-11T05:44:56+02:00March 11th, 2010|God stuff|1 Comment

of fireplaces and fireworks

‘Sometimes we forget that God is fire. We confuse Him with fireplaces and fireworks. We tend to think of Him as a fireplace when we make God too much our friend, as if He were a peer. We sometimes conclude that God is our co-pilot helping us along the way while we remain the pilot. This is the kind of fire that warms you and keeps you comfortable, while at the same time remaining a [...]

By brettfish|2010-03-11T05:42:36+02:00March 11th, 2010|God stuff|0 Comments

how about we start starting when…

'The entire nation of Israel operated on a Sunday to Friday calendar. Saturday was the Sabbath - no work, no play, and no good works. Saturday was the holy day, and all who would give homage and honour to God would keep the Sabbath holy. Right out of the gate, the church moved the holy day to Sunday. On the Sabbath, Jesus was still dead. On Sunday, He rose from the dead. I have to [...]

By brettfish|2010-02-02T07:30:01+02:00February 2nd, 2010|church, God stuff|0 Comments

EW: Give up on Keeping up!

another excerpt from Erwin McManus 'an unSTOPPABLE force' - just buy it already! 'And though i'm advocating our need to become a movement, I would like to encourage you to give up on keeping up.' then a little later: 'The first-century church didn't keep up with its time, didn't spend its energy keeping up with its time. The first-century church changed time. It rewrote history. It radically impacted culture. The church was the forerunner, not [...]

By brettfish|2010-01-16T16:30:05+02:00January 16th, 2010|church, God stuff, life, love and chocolate, people, relationships, the beautiful Val (tbV)|0 Comments

two of the questions

that i am grappling with lately: one of them is taking the incredible life-transforming simple-gospel stuff we are reading about in books like Shane Claiborne's 'The Irresistible Revolution' and Erwin McManus 'an unSTOPPABLE force' and Rich Stearns 'The Hole in the Gospel' and even going back to the legen....dary Keith Green's 'No Compromise' story and not just being excited and 'challenged' and 'changed' by it, and not just talking about it and maybe looking down [...]

By brettfish|2010-01-15T05:34:07+02:00January 15th, 2010|church, God stuff, life, the beautiful Val (tbV)|6 Comments

an unSTOPPABLE force, part multiculturalism/diversity/unity

some more Erwin McManus from the book 'an unSTOPPABLE force' - From the chapter ‘Friction Traction’ On Multiculturalism: ‘The gospel, as presented in our time, has been crafted in such a way that would only bring Christians to Christ.’ ‘Evangelism for much of the church has not been among unbelievers but focused on receivers – people who already accepted our worldview.’ ‘The “great sociologist” Rodney King once said, “Can’t we all just get along?” The [...]

By brettfish|2010-01-14T04:43:47+02:00January 14th, 2010|church, God stuff, people|0 Comments

"I WANT THE CHURCH!"… "you can't han-dle the church!"

"When those who hold positions of leadership in the church of Jesus Christ stand opposed to the very heart of God and refuse to submit their lives to His Word, it is the death of life in that church." [Erwin McManus, an unSTOPPABLE force] that is just so true. i have seen it and i have been on the receiving end of it. and it always comes down to "me me me me ME me" [...]

By brettfish|2010-01-12T05:00:57+02:00January 12th, 2010|church|4 Comments

highly recommended book read on the church…

'"We're looking for a church that meets our needs." It seems like I've heard this one a thousand times. The phenomenon of church shoppers has profoundly shaped the contemporary church. The entire conversation is not about relevance but convenience. The focus is not in serving the world; the church itself became the focal point. Our motto degenerated from "We are the church, here to serve a lost and broken world" to "What does the church [...]

By brettfish|2010-01-05T10:31:24+02:00January 5th, 2010|church, God stuff, life|1 Comment